Electrical switch



July 16, 1929.

R. L. SMYTHE ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Aug. 19, 1927 nllln 'R-llllllllllll 2 Shees-Sheerl 1 Rum/ L Emyha..

July 16,` 1929. R SMYTHE 1,720,860

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed'Aug. 19. 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented July 16,- 1 929.

o UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

ROBERT L.'SMYTHE, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN ASSIGNB TO 'LINE -MATERIAL COI- PANY, or sournmnwnuxnn, wisconsin, a

' ELECTRICAL 'swrrcrr conronn'rron or WISCONSIN.'

Application mea August 1s, 19a?. serial im 214,121.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical switches and refers more particularly to a disconnecting switch adapted to be incorporated'within a high voltage trans- 5 mission line to facilitate the disruption .of

a section of the line for vthe purpose ofrepairing or replacement. The switch is generally mounted upon a tower, pole or other support, and is usually controlled with two similar units by a single device located at a remote point.

Switches of this character are designed to carry high voltage current thereby necessitating the provision of a. quick make and. 15 break'to eliminate destructive arcing forces.-

It is also highly 4desirable that the gap between the switch parts be as wide as possible to prevent jumping of current thereacross. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a switch of the character described in which the movable member moves at-a relatively high -speed to eliminate, as

' much as possible, destructive arcing forces.

, 'Another object of this invention resldes in the provision of a switch of the character described, having a'movable member so constructed that the initial opening force applied to the element vis relatively great and A- the movement thereof-from a predetermmed point is accelerated. v

A further objt of this inventlon resldes inthe provision lof a switch of the character Y described in which the movable member is composed of vtwo pivoted sections s o arranged that the opening force 1s applled to move both sections in unison to a Apredeter-A mined point, continued movement pf the opening means causing one of the sections to rapidly pivot about its connection with the 40- other section'. v i \With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,-

my invention-` resides inthe novel construe tion, combination and arrangement ofpari" 4substantially as hereinafter described aid e more particularly defined by the appended Y claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein dis# 'closed invention may be made as come with- 5 in the scope ofthe claims.

In the accompanymg drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physicalem bodifment of my invention constructed according to the best mode haveso far de-y vised for the practical application of the prlnciples thereof, and in which:

igure 1 is a side elevational view of my unproved switch construction with parts broken away `to illustrate details of construction;

Figure 2 isv an end view of the switch taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and, v Figure 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the various positions of the movable member.

Referring now more ,particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates a mounting base of channel iron or the like,

-which may be a part of the tower or other' support for the switch unit and on whic two pedestals 6 are mounted by being bolted or eing otherwise secured, as at 7. The base or supports 8 of suitable insulators 9 and 10, preferably of the petticoat type, are bolted or otherwise secured to the pedestals, as at 11 rAs clearly illustrated, the insulatorsv are spaced apart and when the ,switch unit is mounted vertically they are preferably inclined to direct the top face of the insulators upwardly.

Suitably fixed to the outer end ofthe insulator 9 is a bracket member 11 on which is mounted the stationary contact 12 of the switch. This contact may be of any suitable construction, and in the present embodiment includes a pair, of. switch clips 13, one of which is spring urged to engagement with the other and between which the end portion 14 of the movable switch'member 15 is engageable. The adjacent transmission line 16 is electrically connected with the contact 12` bya terminal 17 and is anchored to the bracket member 11 bya clamp.`18.

The other insulator 10 has a' bracket member 19 suitably secured to its outer. end substantially in. line.v with the bracket; member 11, and the movable 4 switch member 15 which consists of a lower section 20 and an upper section 21, pivotally connected there' to as at 22, is pivoted to the bracket mem 1 ber at 23. t Y

As best illustrated in Figure 2, the .sec-v formed of two aced members, the lower section 20 consisting of angle irons 24 held l tions of the movable switch member are v section and being held in the proper relation by a transverse -member 28 having its ends directed laterally to-enffage the outer faces of the side members 2 That portion of the side members 27 upwardly of the transverse member 28 are converged and receive therebetween -at their outer ,end the contact member 14 which is of the knife blade type. The connection between the blade contact .14 andside members is, what might 'be termed, sloppy allowing a limited pivotal y movement of the blade with respect to the sides to more readily break any mechanical freezing of the switch blade with the contact l2. l

The lower end of each side member 27 of the uppersection-has a cam plate 29 to be later described, connected therewith and extended inwardl of its end, the plate being securedto the si e member 27 by rivets or other means 30, which also pass through the lateral portions of the transverse member 28. The pivot 22 connecting the two sec.

tions nf the movable switch member passes through the cam plates as well as the side membersl 27 and the angle iron members 24.f

Opening and closing movements are imparted to the movable switch member by an actuating lever 31, xed to a shaft 32, suitably journaled in bearings 33 mounted on the base 5, `and which may be extended to actuate any .number of switch. units, being rotated from an operating lever, not shown,

connected' with a rod 34 pivoted to a lever 35 connected with the shaft. A. mounting member .36 is pivoted to the outer end of'- lever 31 and has the base 37 of an insulator y 38 secured thereto, the other end of the in# on. Aleft and right threaded stud 40 adjustably connects the head 39 with a link L 41 pivotally connected with the movable verse pin 43 with a M4plate, the pin being carried at the outer end of'a linkmembr 45 whichl is positioned beswitch Vmember at 42, the. pivot 42- passing "through the. laterally extended portions of the transverse members 28.

' The -two sections .of the movable switch member move in unison and in longitudinal alignment throughout a` predetermined de-V gree of opening movement being locked in this relation by the en agement of a transecess 44 in the cam tween the sides 24 of the lower section and lpivotallymounted froml an upwardly ex- 1,72o,seo

tended portion 46 of thebracket member I 19 as at 47.Rollers 48carri'ed"by'the pin relieve the same of undue wear, and facilitate the movement of the switch. The pin 43 has itsouter ends passed through elongated apertures 49 in the side portions of the member 24, the lengthand position of which is such that when the switch is in fully closed position, as illustrated in Figure 1, the pin 43 engages the upper outer end thereof.

As the switch member, in its opening movement, approaches a position depieted by the full lines in Figure 3, pin 43 is withdrawn from the cam-recess and engages the lower or inner end of the elongated slot 49 arresting the movement of the lower section 20, continued opening movement causing the upper section 21 to pivot about the pivotal connection 22 which becomes stationary. It

will be apparent that the movement of the upper section about Vthe-pivotf22iis rela `tively fast thus quickly obtaining the neces sary distance between it and the stationary i contact.

, In closing,V the operation 1s substantlally the reverse, the link causes the pin lto travel upwardly in the slotand into engagement with the cam recess. vThe engagement of the pin with the upper end of the slot locates the lower section in its proper position and a stop' pin` 50 carried by the cam plates abuts the sides of the lower section to' positively align the sections and prevent their buckling with respect to each other.

The blade 14 is electrically connected with the other end 51 of the transmission line by a flexible conductor 52 clamped to the blade,

as at 53, and electrically connected with a terminal 54 with which the end of the transmissionline is connected, a clamp 18 anchoring line 51 to the bracket member 19.

If desired, a sleet hood 55 may be mounted on thebracket member 11 to protectvcontact 12 and blade 14.

What I claim as my lnvention ls:

1. In combination, a movable switch mem\ ber including two sections pivotally connect` sulator 38 having a head 39 mounted thereed at their adjacent ends, means pivotally mounting the outer end of one section,1 a contact terminal with which the outer end of the other section is engageable, means for securing the sections in longitudinal ahgpment when the switch is closed, and means cooperating with said securing means where- `byl one section remains stationary during .opening movement beyond a predetermined means whereby the sections remain in longitdinal alignment through a predetermined period of opening movement and whereby further opening movement causes .the sections to assume an angular position with respect to each other.

3. A movable switch member, including two sections having their adjacent ends pivotally connected, a support pivotally mount-` ing the outer end of one section, a contact terminal with which the outer end ofthe other section is engageable, means for swinging. the movable switch member to open the switch, cooperating means carried by the second-mentioned section and pivoted to the support to. which the first-mentioned section is pivoted whereby the sections move in longitudinal alignment throughout a predetermined period of opening movement and durI ingoontinued opening movement the firstmentioned section is arrested.

4. A movable switch member including I two sections-having their adjacent ends pivotally connected, .a support to which the outer end of one section is pivoted, a con-r tact terminal with which the outer end of Athe other section is engaged, means for' swinging the switch member to open the4 switch,'a`cam member carried by the second-v mentioned section, and a linkpivoted tothe v support' and having its outer end engage-- able with the cam, whereby the sections travel in longitudinal alignment throughout a predetermined first section is arrested; i

degree of opening move-- mentA and during. continuedmovement the 5. A movable switch member 'including' two sections having their adjacent ends ipivotally connected, a support to which the out- ,A

ing the second mentioned section to pivot about its connection/with the first mentioned section.

6. A movable switch member including two sections having their adjacent ends pivotally connected means pivotally mounting the outer end o one section, a contact terminal with whichthe outer end of the other section is engageable, means for swinging the switch member to open the switch, means for securing the sections in longitudinal," alignment, and means forrenderln said last mentioned means inactive after t e switch member has been opened a predeterminedA degree to permit the sections to assu e an angular position withres cotto-,each other upon further opening of t eswtch.

In. testimony whereof I have hereunto af fixed my signature.

'ROBERT L. sMY'rHE 

